The UK government’s focus on “missions” represents an important shift in how public sector organisations approach complex challenges. But a critical question remains: how do we translate these high-level strategic missions into actionable initiatives that deliver real, measurable value?
This is where mission-based working comes in—an approach that’s particularly relevant for government organisations seeking to bridge the gap between ambitious policy goals and tangible outcomes.
The Government mission challenge
Government missions tend to be broad, aspirational and long-term by nature. While this provides important strategic direction, it creates significant challenges for delivery teams trying to understand:
- What does success look like in measurable terms?
- How do we break this down into actionable components?
- How do we break down the silos to achieve joined-up outcomes?
- How do we ensure our day-to-day work is meaningfully contributing to the mission?
As noted in my recent Innovation 25 talk, “There’s definitely a knack involved in trying to bring mission-based working down a few levels to actually execute.”
Without this translation, there’s a risk that as missions cascade down through organisations, they fragment into disconnected projects that fail to collectively deliver on the original intent.
Progressive change through transparency
At Sullivan & Stanley, our approach to supporting government organisations differs from traditional consulting in several key ways:
Transparent transformation
Rather than developing new ways of working in isolation, we make the process transparent to everyone. Regular “show and tell” sessions, often attended by hundreds of stakeholders, showcase what’s working and what isn’t.
This transparency builds trust horizontally across the organisation—essential in government settings where vertical trust hierarchies can impede progress. As the Edelman Barometer consistently shows, trust typically flows horizontally between peers rather than vertically through command structures.
Deep and narrow focus
Instead of attempting broad, shallow change across an entire department or agency, we focus deeply on one team with one mission. These teams become lighthouses that demonstrate what’s possible, creating positive FOMO (fear of missing out) that drives adoption elsewhere.
This approach is particularly valuable in government contexts where large-scale transformation programmes often struggle with change fatigue and resistance.
Data-driven decision making
By establishing clear metrics and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), teams focus on delivering measurable value in 90-day cycles. This creates momentum and provides tangible evidence that the approach works.
For government organisations accountable to taxpayers, this focus on measurable outcomes is crucial for demonstrating value for money and effective public service delivery.
Case study: From strategy to impact
One government department we worked with was struggling to implement a critical digital transformation strategy. Despite having a clear mission statement and multiple workstreams, progress was limited and stakeholder frustration was growing.
By applying mission-based working, we:
- Reframed their technical project into a mission focused on citizen outcomes
- Assembled a cross-functional team drawing expertise from across the department
- Created an environment of psychological safety where innovation could flourish
- Established clear metrics tied directly to strategic objectives
- Delivered significant improvements in service quality and efficiency within 90 days
The impact went beyond the immediate deliverables. Team members reported higher engagement, new leaders emerged and the approach created a template for tackling other strategic priorities.
Building sustainable capability
Perhaps most importantly, mission-based working builds capability within government organisations rather than creating dependency on external consultants. By embedding new ways of working and providing teams with the tools to succeed, this approach ensures that improvements are sustainable long after any external support ends.
Our AI-driven team optimisation platform MissionHub.ai further enhances this sustainability, providing government organisations with the ability to:
- Form high-performing teams based on working styles and team dynamics
- Accelerate team maturity and productivity
- Maintain focus on mission outcomes
- Measure and improve team health and performance over time
The path forward
As government organisations face increasingly complex challenges—from climate change to digital transformation—the ability to translate high-level missions into measurable outcomes becomes ever more critical.
Mission-based working offers a proven approach that honours the complexity of these challenges while providing practical pathways to delivering real impact for citizens and communities.
By combining clear mission framing, cross-functional teams, and data-driven execution, government organisations can close the gap between strategic intent and tangible outcomes—delivering on their promise to the public they serve.
Want to learn more about how mission-based working can help your government organisation translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes? Contact our team to arrange a discussion.
